Panique, Delos Santos top 2nd Del Run

Marikina City Mayor Del de Guzman raises the
hands of Eric Panique (left) and Mary Grace
Delos Santos (right) for topping the 21K race
of the 2nd Del Run (Save The Marikina
Watershed) held last Sunday in Marikina City.

National runner Eric Panique of Himamaylan City and two-time Milo Marathon queen Mary Grace delos Santos of Zamboanga Sibugay emerged victorious in the 2nd Del Run (Save The Marikina Watershed) held last Sunday in an out-and-back course at the Marikina Sports Park, organizers said in a press statement released  recently.

Panique, who is hoping to represent the country in the marathon event of the 2013 Southeast Asian Games, finished the 21-kilometer race last Sunday in one hour, 13 minutes and one second  to rule the male category of the annual advocacy race that helps rehabilitate the Marikina Watershed.

Panique was followed by Ireneo Raquin (1:13:06) and Rene Desuyo (1:21:33).

Delos Santos, who is also a member of the national training pool, topped the distaff side with a clocking of 1:29:34, beating  Janice Tawagen (1:35:27)  and Cinderella Lorenzo (1:42:00).


For their feat, Marikina City Mayor Del de Guzman awarded Panique and delos Santos the first place medals and P10,000 each.

In his speech during the awarding ceremony, Mayor Del thanked the more than 1,500 runners who joined the race.

Claiming the top three places in the 10K run were Richard Salano (33:17),  Elmer Sabal
(33:58) and Jujet De Asis (34:19) in the male category and  Janette Agura (42:26),   Corazon Salcedo (45:09) and  Olivia Cortez (49:08) in the female category.

Panique (left) and Delos Santos show
off their medals after the awarding
ceremonies. 

The winners in the 5K side event were Ferdinand Corpuz (13:21), Roldan Verano (13:48) and Rudy Hernandez (14:53) in the men's and Mae Ann Gongob (18:20), Jomarie Alison (20:44) and Marie Monica Silona (26:03) in the women's side.

All winners likewise received medals and cash prizes.

Special awards were also given to the youngest finishers 10-year-old

Ralph Roxas  and 8-year old Izza Aga   and the oldest runner 71-year old Renato Garcia who all ran in the  5K event.

Now on its second year, Del Run (Save the Marikina Watershed) aims to generate funds which the city government will utilize to plant trees and restore the 27,000-hectare Marikina Watershed. At its current state, there are not enough trees to prevent soil erosion which caused the Marikina River to become shallow and cause flooding in the city and its neighboring cities and municipalities.